Dozens of US lawmakers call for release of former Pakistan Prime Minister

24/10/2024 6:13

        Over 60 Democratic
        lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives wrote to
        President Joe Biden on Wednesday, urging him to use Washington's
        leverage with Pakistan to secure the release of jailed former
        Prime Minister Imran Khan.
        
        
        
        KEY QUOTE
        
        "We write today to urge you to use the United States'
        substantial leverage with Pakistan's government to secure the
        release of political prisoners including former Prime Minister
        Khan and curtail widespread human rights abuses," the lawmakers
        wrote in a letter.
        
        
        
        WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
        
        U.S. Representative Greg Casar, who led the letter, said it
        marked the first such collective call from multiple members of
        the U.S. Congress for the release of Khan, who otherwise has had
        testy relations with Washington as a long standing critic of
        U.S. foreign policy.
        
        Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and has faced dozens
        of cases since he was removed as prime minister in 2022 after
        which he launched a protest movement against a coalition of his
        rivals led by current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Khan says
        cases against him, which disqualified him from contesting the
        February elections, are politically motivated.
        
        He had a fallout with Pakistan's powerful military and
        blamed his ousting on them. The military denies political
        interference.
        
        
        
        CONTEXT
        
        The Democratic lawmakers also raised concerns about
        reported irregularities in Pakistan's elections.
        
        Pakistan's government denies being unfair in Khan's
        treatment and its election commission denies the elections were
        rigged.
        
        Washington says the February vote could not be characterized
        as free and fair. Britain, the European Union and the United
        Nations also raised concerns.
        
        Khan did not run, but candidates he backed secured the
        highest number of seats. Still, his rivals formed a coalition
        government.
        
        A U.N. human rights working group said in July Khan's
        detention violated international law.